Oil-drip-return system.



W. L. MORRIS.

01L DRIP RETURN SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14, 1912.

1 ,141,649. Patented June 1, 1915.

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WILLIAM L. MORRIS, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO F. BOWS ER & 00.,INC., 0F FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

orn-nnir-nn'rumv SYSTEM.

To all whom, it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. MORRIS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county ofAllen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Oil-Drip-R-eturn Systems, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in on return systems, and theprimary object of my invention is to provide an improved systemembodying means for conveying or returning the waste or used oil fromthe bearings and other lubricated parts" of engines, machines and thelike, to a common point, such as an oil filter, so that the oil may bereused.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved systemembodying an organization of drains and connections arranged forminimizing clogging or blocking, and embodying means for gaining accessand cleaning the clogged parts without interfering with orinterruptionin the operation of the other portions thereof and therebyavoiding the shutting down of the entire system when some portionthereof becomes clogged. V

A further object is to provide an improved oil return system embodyingmeans whereby the location of the clogged portion or portions may bereadily determined or ascertained without interruption or disturbance ofthe operation of the system.

With these and other hereinafter appearing objects in view, my inventionconsists in the features of novelty disclosed in the construction,combination and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed,and. shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment ofmy invention, and in which 1 Figure l is a diagrammatic viewillustrating my invention as applied to a bank of three cross-compoundengines; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective illustrating the oildrains and other parts associated with one engine. Fig. 3 is an enlargedvertical sectional view of one of the manifolds or junction boxesshowing how the drains enter it. 7 2 I In the drawings I haveillustrated my invention as embodied in an oil drip return systemarranged to adapt it to the require- Specificati'on of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1915.

Application filed February 14; 1912. Serial No; 677,606.

chines to catch the oil drippings therefrom I and prevent the oil fromrunning over the floor, and it is in connection with such an arrangementthat I will describe my invention. These pans are illustrated as at Aand in the particular arrangement shown, those associated with eachengine are grouped, so to speak. Generally these pans have outletscomprising drip pots B, which pass through the floor and providesuitable means by which the drains may be connected.

At conveniently accessible points near sevand pans I place junctionboxes or drip manifolds O, and to the manifolds I run branch or drainpipes D from the drip pots B of the several pans so that the manifoldsconstitute common points to which the oil from the particular pansconnected to each manifold may fiow. Preferably I provide each pan witha single drain pipe D connected to the manifold, and in a gravity systemthese drains are pitched or inclined sufficiently to cause the oil toflow along but not fill the drains.

I generally locate an oil main E as close as inclosed by the dottedlines X so that the a a several drains thereof feed oil directly to themain E through their respective manifolds.

In the case of the other groups Y, such as those inclosed by the dottedline Y it is deemed advisable, because of their greater distance fromthe main E, to connect the manifolds thereof with main E by means ofstraight direct feeders G. These feeders enter the main through themanifolds of groups X and for this reason the manifolds of groups X aresufficiently larger in capac ity to accommodate the flow of 'oil fromboth groups. Like the drains D, the feeders G and main E are pitchedsuficiently so that the oil flows generally in one direction through thesystem and it is obvious that the main E may deliver oil directly to theoil filters (not shown), or it may discharge the oil into a still largermain.

The manifolds C may be of any suitable kind, but I find the best resultsare obtained by making them of metal, rectangular in shape as clearlyshown in the drawings, and providing removable screw caps 0 which sealthe manifolds. Any suitable means may be employed for connecting thevarious pipes to the manifold. V

In Fig. 3 I have shown the drain pipes D and the main E screwed orthreaded into the side walls C of the manifold so that their ends arepreferably flush with the inner. faces of said walls; The various pipesare arranged in such manner that the oil enters the manifolds at ahigher level than it leaves them; for instance, in Fig. 3 it will beseen that the drain pipes D enter the manifold at the upper partthereof, and the avoid sharp turns.

main E through which the oil leaves is connected to the manifold at thelower portion thereof. Furthermore, the pipes through which the oilleaves the manifolds are preferably large enough to carry away the oilas fast as it enters the manifolds. Hence in the normal operation of thesys tem the manifolds do not fill with oil.

Should a pipe in the system become clogged so asto obstruct the passageof oil therethrough it will cause the manifold, from which it had beentaking the oil, to fill. This can be readily located by backing off orunscrewing the cap of a manifold which has a clogged line running intoit, and if the oil oozes out it indicates that the manifold is filledand that the system is clogged farther on down. This is done with theseveral manifolds in the line until a manifold is located which does notleak oil when its cap is unscrewed, thus indicating that from thatmanifold on down to the filters the system is clear and normal. When aclogged pipeis thus located it is a simple matter to remove the caps ofthe manifold to which the clogged pipe is connected and insert a fishwire or cable into the pipe through the opening in the manifold.

1 In order to facilitate the cleaning of the system I prefer thatwherever possible the various pipes be arranged as straight and directas possible, but if it is necessary to provide bends in the pipe Iprefer that these bends be made on a long radius so as to I also preferto provide suitablejoints or couplings H in the various pipes so as tofacilitatethe removal of the pipes if desired.

The outgoing pipes from the manifolds (such as the mains E, see Fig. 3)are preferably connected to the manifolds slightly above the'bottom wallthereof so as to leave a pit J into which the larger impurities such asbugs, lint and the like, may collect. This sludge may be readily removedthrough the cap-covered openings.

In installing a system of this character the best results are bestaccomplished by studying the particular conditions and then grouping orarranging the manifolds and pipes accordingly. Itv will be noted thesystem is flexible andmay be arranged to adapt it to various conditions,all without departing from the spirit of my invention,

and accordingly I do not desire to be limited to the-particulararrangement shown.

WVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An oil drip return system comprising a return main, a junction boxconnected in series in the return main, drain pipes, group manifolds towhich some of the drain pipes are connected, and means connecting eachgroup manifold'with a junction box.

2. An oil drip return system comprising a return main, junction boxes inseries in the return main, lateral pipes leading from the junctionboxes, group manifolds con.- nected to the lateral pipes, anddrainpipes,

some of which lead to the group manifold,

and othersto the main junction boxes.

3. An oil drip return system comprising a plurality of independentgroups, oil drains, each of which communicates with a separate source ofoil drippings, a common manifold for each of said groups, a return main,junction boxes in series with the return main, an individual pipeleading'from' each manifold at a point below the entrance thereto ofsaid drains to one of the junction boxes and normally adapted tomaintain said manifold substantially'drained of its contents, anda'closure for each manifold and junction box whereby access may be hadto the interior thereof.

4:. An oil drip return system comprising a return main, a junction boxconnected in series with the mam, a plurality of individual oil drainscommunicating with and junction box of each group, a common re.- 7

turn main in series with one or more junc tion boxes adapted todrain theoilfrom the unction boxes as fast" as it is delivered thereto from themanifold junction boxes, and removable covers for the junction boxesabove the points where the oil enters.

6. An oil drip return system comprising a plurality of common junctionboxes, a return main connected in series with the junction boxesadjacent the bottom thereof, a plurality of groups of oil drains, amanifold junction box for each group of drains, and a pipe connectingeach manifold junction box at a point below the entrance points of thedrains and connected to a common junction box at a point above that atwhich the return main is connected.

7. An oil drip return system comprising a plurality of common junctionboxes, a common return main connected in series with the boxes, aplurality of oil drain pipes, some of which are arranged in groups, andsome connected directly to the common junction boxes at points above theconnection with the return main, a manifold junction box for each groupof drain pipes, and a pipe forming connection from the manifold junctionbox at a point below the entry of the drains and the common junction boXat a point above the connection with the return main, all of the pipesbeing inclined to discharge to the common junction boxes.

8. An oil drip return system comprising junction boxes, group manifoldseach connected to a junction box, a plurality of drip collectingreceptacles arranged about and at a distance from the boxes andmanifolds, and a drain pipe for each receptacle, some of which extend tothe boxes and some to the manifolds each having an unbroken bore at anyplace where the direction of flow is changed.

9. An oil drip return system comprising an inclosed return main,junction boxes in the return main, group manifolds each connected withone of the boxes, drip collecting receptacles, a drain pipe extendingfrom each receptacle to a manifold or box, the receptacles being abovethe manifolds and the manifolds being above the boxes to drain thereto,the boxes and manifolds being each provided with an access opening abovethe drain and discharge connections, and adjustable caps for theopenings which may be slightly opened to show, by leakage from itsopening, where the system is obstructed.

10. In an oil drip return system, the combination with drip collectingreceptacles, group manifolds for a number of receptacles and mainjunction boxes, of pipes connecting them so that they will drain bygravity to the lowermost, each box and manifold being provided with anopening above the connecting pipes thereto, and a tight-fitting butadjustable cap for each opening which can be slightly opened to show, byleakage from its opening, the place where the return pipe is obstructed.

11. In an oil drip return system, the combination With drip collectingreceptacles, group manifolds and common junction boxes, of pipesconnecting them for draining liquid to the lowermost point of thesystem, each pipe in which the direction of flow is changed being formedwith an unbroken bend so that there will be the least tendency for thepipes to clog at the bend.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 29th day of December A.D. 1911.

WILLIAM L. MORRIS.

Witnesses:

J. W. Bnnnows, C. M. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

